Presentation from the SOA '10 Health Meeting, held on June 28–30, in Orlando, FL.

Presentation from the SOA '10 Health Meeting, held on June 28–30, in Orlando, FL.

Every day Americans rely on their bones and muscles for strength, energy and mobility to help them get their job done. But research by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. shows workers' framework is showing wear and tear.

In response to the lagging economy and lackluster life sales, many producers are renewing their focus on disability insurance (DI) as an income-bolstering strategy. It’s a good plan because now, more than ever before, American workers understand the serious need for income protection. If you haven’t dipped your toe in the DI pool, now’s the time! If you’re unsure how to get started, here’s a quick rundown on how to choose the perfect DI prospect.

A subgroup at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners will be holding a conference call on the rules that govern individual disability insurance policies, riders and applications.

The National Standards Working Group, part of the Executive Committee at the NAIC, Kansas City, Mo., plans to hold a disability income subgroup call June 8.

The popularity of the multiple CSI television shows and similar real-life (and death) cable programs have raised the public's awareness of forensic science. Insurance companies have also noticed and forensic claim investigations are becoming a normal part of the business, especially in the area of AD&D claims where it is important to determine if a death was accidental according to the terms of the policy.

Over the past two years, the Society of Actuaries’ Group Long Term Disability Experience Study Committee has gathered and analyzed group long term disability (GLTD) claim termination experience. The goal of the study is to create experience and valuation tables. The SOA Experience Study committee is comprised of SOA staff members, industry actuaries, and consultants. This article summarizes the past and current efforts and looks at next steps in the process.

It seems that everyone is interested or at least has heard of Facebook, Twitter, My Space and other social networking sites. Undoubtedly, they are becoming more and more populari and bringing the world in which we live closer together. These new networks provide an overabundance of possibilities to keep "friends" (real or virtual) informed of our daily status, our activities and even our whereabouts should we chose to do so. This level of sharing has led to the creation of an electronic evidence trail of a user's thoughts and activities including photos as created and recorded by the user. Insurance companies have caught on and have started to "surf" the web to gather information with respect to claimants as part of the claims adjudication process. Telephone interviews and video surveillance do not seem to be enough anymore.

The secret to finding small business owners who are good disability insurance risks even in the middle of the Great Recession is that there is no secret, according to Ernest Smith in a breakout session on “financial underwriting” in turbulent times at a disability insurance conference organized by JHA, Portland, Maine, a unit of General Re Life Corp., Stamford, Conn.

During 2004--2007, an average of 15.7 million injuries were reported per year among employed persons. Half of these injuries resulted in time lost from work: 8% resulted in <1 day of time lost, 26% resulted in 1--5 days lost, and 16% resulted in ≥6 days lost. An average of 8.7 million injuries were reported per year among persons who attended school. Approximately one third of these injuries resulted in time lost from school: 9% resulted in <1 day of time lost, 22% resulted in 1--5 days lost, and 3% resulted in ≥6 days lost.

An insurance group should support a project to find out how terrorist attacks, economic disasters and natural disasters affect the likelihood that U.S. residents with disability insurance will suffer from disabling mental health problems.

The Society of Actuaries' Group Disability Insurance Experience Committee has completed their study of termination experience for the period 1997-2006.

Agents help prospective athletes insure their future—even before they’re eligible to turn pro.

Summary report provided at the JHA site. Mid-year summary and 2008 Individual summary report available as well.

Prior years' (2006 and 2007) summaries available at http://www.jhaweb.com/jsite/research/studies.aspx.

• Success Beyond Infertility Treatment
• Cognitive Changes Associated with Chemotherapy
• Radiology Benefit Management: A Primer for Health Plans
• When is the Right Time to Treat HIV Infection?
• Earn CEUs through ING Reinsurance Teleconferences

JHA, a division of Gen Re LifeHealth, is pleased to release the results of the 2009 U.S. Group Life and Group Disability Mid-Year Market Surveys. These leading industry benchmark surveys cover Group Term Life (Basic Term Life and Voluntary Term Life), Short Term Disability (STD) and Long Term Disability (LTD) sales and earned premium for the first half of the year.

To spot a trend in clothing, you check out the fashionista as they flicker about with flair and flash, but how do you discover trends in group disability? I’ve yet to meet a case managerista and I am not really sure I want to (I’ve heard there might be a few in Toronto), says ING Re's Mark Taylor.

Think back – do you remember at least one quarter where your company’s financial results were well below plan as a result of far more than expected new LTD claims? Do you also remember when, a couple of quarters later, the financial results were excellent, as many of these new claims terminated when they had proved to be not very severe?

Good claims experience has helped bring down life and health reinsurance prices.

A consultant at Guy Carpenter & Company L.L.C., New York, gives that assessment in a mid-year review of the life and health reinsurance market.